Friday, February 7, 2014

When the incomparable Katy Dill hosts a series and asks one to join, the answer has to be yes! Have you been following her "Sew All 26" series? How could you not? Every time she posts something I think she can't possibly outdo herself and yet she does!

I chose the letter "R." Not because it has any special meaning, but because when I was presented with the opportunity it gave me what should have been plenty of time and a few ideas I could play with.

It all started with: Romantic, Ruffled, Rose...

And then R stood for "Ran out of fabric." So much for advance planning. So I sewed a blouse instead of a dress.

And to Reinvent my idea, I sewed a Retro skirt with Rounded pockets...

The pockets are a Reappearance from a dress I sewed about a year ago for another fun series. I was going to put them on the Romantic Dress, which was also inspired by that project, had it been a dress, but I've also been thinking about the pockets on a seamed a-line skirt like this. I've had this skirt in my head for a while. I was going to make one for myself but sewing for myself never seems as pressing. Now that I have the pattern worked out maybe I will make one. (Right...)

I made the skirt out of grey boiled wool I purchased here last year and lined it with some scraps of the Anna Maria Horner cotton. I wish I'd had more of that fabric because I'd love it for all the lining. As it is, it's in the pockets and waistband and the rest of the lining is offwhite.

Finally R is for a reversible shrug.

This is my Winnie Shrug (Update: the pattern is available here!) and I wish I'd taken a photo of Audrey wearing it with the printed side out. For that matter, I wish I'd taken photos of the blouse and skirt without the shrug too. That may be my favorite combination. But I was already pushing my luck.

My camera battery died right after I took this shot. And did I mention my sewing machine broke while I was in the middle of sewing the skirt? But that I just happened to have a neighbor's machine sitting in my sewing room? It was unbelievable really. A bit Rough!

But R is also for Recovered, Resistant, Rallied and so Relieved. This project made it! And Audrey was a trooper too with her Rosy cheeks.

Thank you Katy for the inspiration and the Reason to sew. It was so much fun! I would sew with you anytime.

What a story! I don't think you will ever forget making this outfit! I love the fabric in the blouse... I think I may have to see if my LFS has any left. Audrey looks gorgeous. The fabric colours really suit her. :)Sheree